MP accuses Tories over boundary plans
An MP has criticised controversial proposals that would see his parliamentary constituency carved up by redrawing the political map of the West Midlands.
Under the plans Ian Austin's Dudley North constituency would be split up to merge with towns in Sandwell. He today branded the government proposals as being a "fiddle" to win votes. The Boundary Commission for England has announced proposals to change parliamentary constituencies to cut the number of MPs by 50 to 600.
However the future of the proposals look uncertain as the Liberal Democrats, led by Deputy Prime Minister Nick Clegg, are refusing to support the Conservatives in getting the changes through the House of Commons.
Labour's Mr Austin will face losing most of his Dudley North seat if the merger with part of West Bromwich West is approved.
It could mean Mr Austin going up against his counterpart Adrian Bailey to win the Labour nomination for a new Dudley East and Oldbury constituency.
Mr Austin said: "I hope this proposal does not get through because I think the whole project is an attempt to fiddle the boundaries to make it easier for the Tories to win.
"I think that the whole plan is a dog's breakfast with parliamentary constituencies going across local council areas."
Under other plans one of Wolverhampton's three MPs would go, along with one of Sandwell's four MPs.
But Bilston will no longer be carved up between the MPs following a campaign and will become part of a constituency called Wolverhampton East if the plans are adopted by Parliament.
Proposals for a merger between the Halesowen and Rowley Regis constituency with the Stourbridge seat have also been scrapped.
Instead Stourbridge will take in Wordsley and Brierley Hill wards from Tory MP Chris Kelly's Dudley South constituency.
However the newly named Stourbridge and Dudley seat would lose Quarry Bank and Dudley Wood wards.
